At This Shrine, Homage Is Paid to the Glory of a Checkered Past

This King and his court meet regularly in Level Cross, N.C., home to one ballfield, one gas station, one fire station and Richard Petty.

That makes the unincorporated town about 15 miles south of Greensboro one of the most important in the state, at least judging by interest. The Richard Petty Museum, next door to Petty Enterprises and originally used simply to store his trophies, is now in its fifth year of operation. Adults pay $3 and kids under 17 $1.50 to look at Petty’s awards, three of his old race cars and a 25-minute highlight film that plays continuously.

Attendance was estimated at 20,000 last year. But with Petty’s NASCAR career winding down, interest has picked up. When the museum had a two-day open house in July, which included the opportunity to walk through the garage next door to the museum, 70,000 attended.

The most popular exhibit, according to museum director Laresa Davis, is on Petty’s 1988 crash at Daytona. And fans usually get a glimpse of Petty walking around the garage about once a week.

“It’s the same thing they would do if they went to Graceland and saw Elvis,” Davis said. “Like most people did with the Beatles in the ‘60s. They go crazy.”

Add Petty: He tries to meet the visitors whenever possible, and if he can’t stop he tells his staff to get a name and address so a picture or autograph can be sent. That goes double if the guest is sick or disabled.

“He has to have a place to receive his public,” Davis said. “Or a place for them to go to feel close to him.”

Trivia time: Who was the first black head coach in pro basketball history?

Bad start, good omen? Even after beating the Raiders Saturday at the Coliseum, the Washington Redskins are guaranteed a losing record in exhibition play. It has happened twice before under Joe Gibbs, 1982 and last season.

That’s right, two seasons they won the Super Bowl.

The name game: The Miami Herald, leaving no rosin bag unturned, recently printed a list of the most unusual names for pitchers in major league history. The following is an excerpt, with commentary by the paper:

--Bob Walk.

“Comment: Couldn’t be better if name were Bob Enormousearnedrunaverage.”

--Diomedes Olivo.

“Comment: First three letters of name are Latin for ‘God.’ Remaining letters are Latin for ‘I was 5-6 for my career.’ ”

--Bull Durham.

“Comment: Seriously.”

--Pee Wee Butts.

“Comment: What kind of razzing did this guy get as a kid?”

--Win Remmersewaal.

“Comment: Only way a pitcher could have a better first name is if he were named 0.00 Remmersewaal.”

Trivia answer: John McLendon, who coached the Cleveland Pipers of the American Basketball League in 1962.

Quotebook: Message on T-shirts being sold by a fan near Fenway Park: “The Red Sox Magic Number: 911.”